Top cleaning tricks for your student house

Ever wanted to actually clean your student house but never really knew where to start? We’ve got the top cleaning tricks you can use in your flat. Don’t worry; following these tips will ensure you don’t end up bleaching the carpet or stripping the paint off the wall…

Banish the mould!

Student houses are unfortunately prone to the dreaded damp. No matter what you do, from opening the windows to endlessly tumble drying your clothes, things just feel DAMP. Then, of course, there is the issue of damp on the window sills, damp on the roof, not to mention the damp slime that occurs around the sink - eurgh.

Why it’s a problem: Damp is quite a serious problem. Aside from weakening your walls (damp actually rots plaster), it is also bad for you to breathe in the spores damp areas can produce, especially if you suffer with asthma or other breathing conditions.

How you can get rid of it: Products such as Mr Muscle Bathroom cleaner and Cillit Bang are great for getting rid of dampness. Simply spray the damp area and wait thirty seconds before wiping with hot water and a sponge. Bang and the mould is gone! Just make sure you do not brush the mould, as this can release spores. Another way to remove stubborn damp is to use a solution of three parts water to one part bleach. As long as the bleach is well watered down it won’t stain your wall. Apply the wash and wipe the mould away gently, before drying with a hairdryer.

Stop green rusty shower heads

Showers in student houses get a lot of use with so many people living under the same roof. A common occurrence with shower heads is that they develop rust and limescale; this can often look green or grey in colour and be stubborn to remove.

Why it is a problem: Rusting and limescale on your shower head can affect the water flow and should be fixed to ensure you get your deposit back. 

How you can get rid of it: Pretty simple. Fill up a plastic bag with white vinegar and a little bit of water, tie it around the head of the shower and leave for ten minutes. The build-up should wash off easily and voilà  – your shower is flowing nicely again! 

Clean dirty carpets

Ever wondered why your carpets look five shades darker than they did when you moved in? It might just be because they’ve never been hoovered…

Why it is a problem: Carpets are a big deal to landlords; some even insist that the carpets in their property have to be cleaned professionally when the tenants leave!

How you can get rid of it: Wash any stubborn stains with soap and water. When these have all dried, grab a hoover and something along the lines of a scent booster. You know, those little beads you chuck in the washing machine to make your clothes smell nicer? You can also get something called Shake N’ Vac from Aldi. It’s basically a scented powder that you throw all over the carpet, wait about ten minutes and then hoover up. Everything will look much brighter and hopefully smell like lemon…

Stained curtains

If anyone has splattered a drink on the curtains, kicked some muddy shoes in that direction or they just look a bit grim, it’s probably best to take action.

Why it is a problem: Landlords tend to spot large curtain stains, especially where the curtains are the centrepiece of the whole lounge!

How you can get rid of it: If you can manage to detach your curtains, the best thing to do is put them in the washing machine with lots of washing powder, conditioner and scent booster, before letting them dry and re-hanging them. If other fabrics, such as sofas, smell a little funky, give them a spray with a Febreze fabric cleaner.

Dirty oven

Let’s face it, no one really thinks to clean the oven. People cook their food and shut it until the grime builds up and starts to pong (definitely worth preventing if possible!).

Why it is a problem: Having a clean oven will ensure you get your deposit back. It’s therefore best to keep the oven pretty clean throughout the year. This means at the end of the tenancy you will be able to do a deeper (but still manageable) clean-out.

How you can get rid of it: Give the oven a good spray with a pint of water and two teaspoons of baking soda. Keep doing this until the grease really starts to shift. It might look a little strange, but keep wiping and washing it out until it’s sparkling!

And some simple tips to remember:

• Put some toilet cleaner down the bowl before you sleep to let your toilet clean overnight. Sounds crazy but if there are really stubborn marks on the toilet then tip some old coke down it! The acids in coke are great for working down limescale, (try not to think about what they do to your insides…!)
• Do not leave damp towels on the floor. Always hang them up and whack on a heated towel rack if you have one. Damp towels can very easily lead to damp!
• Use a combination of hot water and washing up liquid to clean any spillages. For red wine stains add white wine vinegar to the mixture.
• Make sure to do a deep clean before you move out at the end of the year!